CONCERT PROGRAMME
T. Kashif. “The Queen Symphony“
As the New Year is coming closer, the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra and maestro Gintaras Rinkevičius present a unique, theatrical work “The Queen Symphony” by the British composer of Turkish origin Tolga Kashif (b. 1962), combining the works of the legendary rock band “Queen” with symphonic music. “I wanted to reveal the original essence of this great music. I wanted to create more than just orchestration, and I discovered that an integral part of “Queen's” music is the language of the modern classical genre,” – says T. Kashif. According to the legendary guitarist of the band "Queen" Brian May, “The Queen Symphony" is the work of a person with new attitude and unique thinking. "I am convinced that this piece, like other things related to “Queen”, can cause a negative reaction. He breaks most of the rules of the symphonic form. But I am also convinced that this symphony will become an immortal favourite of the orchestra's repertoire, as it will always gather full concert halls, ” – says B. May.
The members of the band did not participate in the process of creating T. Kashif's symphony, leaving the composer with complete creative freedom. Although the most famous songs of the band are used for the symphony's musical material, some of them will be difficult to recognize even for the biggest fans of “Queen's” music. "Anyone who hopes to hear simply some arranged “Queen” songs, will be quite shocked," – said “Queen’s” guitarist B. May after the symphony's first auditions.
T. Kashif emphasizes that “Queen's” music is a valuable material for an academic music composer: after all, “Queen” was part of a new radical wave that challenged all popular music. It embodied the original artistic expression we hear in the band’s scrupulously performed recordings and concerts. Today, “The Queen Symphony” is performed all over the world, and its recording remains one of the most popular in the top lists of European, American and Asian classical music. The theatricality and sensuality of “Queen” saturates the sound of the symphony, and we seem to hear the murmuring backstage of Freddy Mercury’s pompous theatre.